Let’s face it folks, it’s hot out there. And what better way to beat the heat than with a tasty summer cocktail? I’ve gone and “researched” a lot of ‘em around town, and these are some of the best ones I’ve found. Some are frozen, some are shots, but most are just ice-cold, refreshing cocktails. If your favorite didn’t make the list, tell us about it. I’ll try anything once.

Liberty Tap Room, West End, Greenville

“The Jeffrey” by Jeff Wallace

• 1.25 oz. Stoli Blueberry Vodka
• Fresh lemons
• Lime
• Simple syrup
• Water
• Splash of Sprite

“The Jeffrey” is very similar to “Liberty Lemonade,” one of the restaurant’s signature drinks, but Jeff mixes it up a bit by substituting Stoli Blueberry Vodka for the usual Absolut Citron. The flavor is subtle enough not to overwhelm the taste of the lemonade, while adding a unique, fruity taste to the drink. Maybe it’s just me, but I think they taste even better after an afternoon of baking in the sun at a Drive game.
 
Sonny’s, Woodruff Road near I-385, Greenville

“Blue Balls” by Tammy Juoaquina

• 1.5 oz. vodka
• Liquid Ice

This one can be a shot or a drink, but most people get it as a shot. Liquid Ice is an energy drink, and take it from a Red Bull and vodka connoisseur, nothing goes better with an energy drink than a generous pour of vodka.

Mojitos Bar & Lounge, West End, Greenville

“Miami Lights” by Jackie Montes

• 2 oz. Hypnotiq
• 0.5 oz. Peach Schnapps
• 0.5 oz. pineapple juice

This fruity cocktail really does look like “Miami Lights.” It’s kinda green, but the yellow from the peach and pineapple really stands out. And it tastes absolutely delicious. Light, fruity and a perfect drink for a summer afternoon.

Mojitos Bar & Lounge, West End, Greenville

“Guanabana Mojito” by Fernando Forero

• 1.5 oz. Bicardi Limon
• 2.5 oz. Guanabana
• 12 mint leaves
• ½ a lime
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• Splash of soda on top

OK, the drinks at Mojitos were so good I couldn’t pick between them. So they both made the list. Sure, they make a ton of mojitos at this place, but this is one is the best. Guanabana is an exotic pear, and it makes for an absolutely delicious drink. I’m gonna be honest, I don’t really like mint-flavored stuff, so I wasn’t exactly thrilled about trying a mojito. But like I said, I’ll try anything once. And I’m glad I did. This drink rocks!

Medusa’s, 520 Rutherford Road (just outside of downtown), Greenville

“Chiquita Banana” by Stephanie Campbell

• 1.25 oz. vodka
• 0.5 oz. Watermelon Pucker
• 0.5 oz. black raspberry
• 0.5 oz. Sour Apple Pucker
• 0.5 oz. Crème de Banana
• 0.5 oz. melon liqeuor
• 0.5 oz. Peach Schnapps

I’m sure you can tell by the recipe that this isn’t a drink for beginners. Even though it tastes like an innocent banana popsicle, don’t be fooled. It doesn’t take many of these before you’ll make the “My Drunk Texts” Web site.

Sushi Murasaki, Main and Washington, Greenville

“Mango Voodoo” by Brendon Cassabon

• 2 oz. Absolut Mango
• 1 oz. lime juice
• 1 oz. Triple Sec
• Splash of pineapple juice
• Splash of soda
• Splash of sour mix
• Dash of Grenadine

I’m not sure where the voodoo part of the drink comes in, but the mango taste is pretty obvious. This drink is so fruity and tropical, if you close your eyes, you’ll think you’re in a hammock on a Caribbean island somewhere instead of propped up on the bar at Murasaki. But be careful, it goes down so smooth, you’ll forget it has three ounces of alcohol in it.

High Cotton, Riverplace, Greenville

“Pimm’s Cup” by Deryk Weber

• 2 oz. Pimm’s Number 1 Cup
• 6 oz. ginger ale
• 2 oz. soda
• Cucumber slice garnish

The Pimm’s Cup is one of the lightest, most refreshing cocktails around. Pimm’s is a specific type and brand of English alcohol, and High Cotton is one of the few places in Greenville I’ve found that carries it. It’s also pretty popular down in New Orleans, where they prefer to make it with lemonade and Sprite, instead of ginger ale and soda. Call me a purist, but I like Deryk’s version better.

The Gathering Spot, Piazza Bergammo, Greenville

“Watermelon Mojito” by Danny Morgan

• 2 oz. Bicardi White Rum
• 1 oz. Malibu
• 1 oz. Midori
• Mint leaves
• Sugar

You wouldn’t necessarily think of The G-Spot as a mojito kind of bar, but Danny’s got this muddling thing down. Maybe it’s because this is one of his personal favorite drinks. Like I said before, I’m not a big fan of mint things, so I was a little skeptical, but these flavored mojitos are fantastic! This watermelon one tastes a lot like flavored spearmint gum. Now we just need to give the recipe to Wrigley’s.

Blu Martini, North Main Street, Greenville

“Tiger Bomb” by Todd Ciccone

• 1.5 oz. Absolut Mandarin
• 0.5 oz. Triple Sec
• 0.5 oz. cranberry juice
  
• 0.5 oz. Red Bull

The “Tiger Bomb” can be made as a drink or a shot, but either tastes great when you leave the dance floor. It tastes a lot like a fruit punch that you’d have at a wedding or something, but it’s definitely a bit more potent. Trust me, this drink isn’t for kids.

The Irish Pub, Pleasantburg near the Carolina First Center, Greenville

“Vodka Lemonade” by Matt Mashburn

• 2 oz. Absolut Citron
• 4 oz. lemonade

It’s simple, but delicious. And after an afternoon of volleyball outside at The Irish Pub, it’s the perfect way to cool off. I wonder if they’ve thought about installing a pool there…

Rey’s, Main and Coffee, Greenville

“Blueberry Ice Pick” by Walt Knight

• 4 oz. iced tea
• 2 oz. lemonade
• 1 oz. blueberry mixer

Ok, this cracks me up. As I was exploring various summer cocktails over the past couple of weeks, I would ask bartenders for their favorites and get the recipes from them. Walt chose this one, and even made a little for me to taste. I thought it was tasty, so I asked him for the recipe. He told me to Google it. He didn’t mention it was non-alcoholic! I even made a comment to him about not being able to taste the alcohol in the drink. And he just smiled. Touché, Walt. Touché.

Sharkey’s, Main near Coffee, Greenville

“Hawaiian Punch” by Chris Sonyers

• 1.25 oz. Skyy Cherry Vodka
• 0.25 oz. Triple Sec
• 0.25 oz. cranberry juice
• 0.25 oz. Sprite

This drink can also be made as a shot or a drink, but I prefer it as a shot. Just because it’s pretty sweet, and a whole glass of it is like drinking, well, a whole glass of Hawaiian Punch. It’s amazing how much it tastes exactly like that red stuff we all grew up on! And if it really is like the non-alcoholic version, try not to spill it on your clothes. It never comes out.

221 North Ultra Lounge, 221 N. Main Street, Greenville

“Tarheel” by Chad Collins

• 0.5 oz. vodka
• 0.5 oz. gin
• 0.5 oz. rum
• 0.5 oz. peach juice
  
• 0.5 oz. Blue Curacao
• Splash of pineapple juice
• Splash of sour mix
• Splash of Sprite

This is basically the same concept as a Long Island Iced Tea, but good Lord, it tastes so much better. Like most of the drinks on this list, it’s one of those seemingly “innocent” drinks that goes down smooth and you could drink them all night. Of course, if you did, you wouldn’t be standing by the end of the night. I think it just might be what keeps the Tarheels going in the off-season.

Got a recipe you'd like to add? Share your recipe in the comments section below.